u/Darth_nautilus

We are a newly married couple, 29M and 27F. We both work in consulting and have a combined in-hand income of ₹3.45 LPM, excluding tax and PF. We also receive annual bonuses of around ₹3.4L post-tax.

We estimate our total monthly expenses — including rent, groceries, travel, insurance, discretionary spending, and a travel fund, etc.— to be around ₹1.4 LPM.

Our combined assets are approximately ₹72L:

~60% in equities

~10% in cash

Remaining in EPF/PPF

I currently have an education loan of ₹10.3L at an 8.25% floating interest rate. Apart from that, we have no major liabilities. Term insurance in place for M not F. Health insurance taken for both.

Both of our parents are financially independent. We are not factoring in any inheritance in our planning, although our parents do own a couple of houses. If that happens, it happens.

Questions for guidance:

1.) What would be the right time for us to buy our first property? Should it be in a Tier-1 city (currently Gurgaon, though we may relocate depending on career opportunities) or in our hometown (Mohali)?

2.) Should the first property be purchased primarily from a living perspective or as an investment? Ideally, what percentage of one’s portfolio should be allocated to real estate?

3.) From a financial perspective, is it generally better to continue living in the city where one works, or rent for a few years and eventually move back to the hometown if it offers comparable facilities and lifestyle?

4.) From a career standpoint, since we both fall in the 30% tax bracket, should we focus more on increasing our primary salaries or on building secondary income streams?

5.) What are some common financial or career mistakes people in our situation tend to make?

6.) What would be an ideal allocation to international equities within our overall portfolio?

7.) Should I close my education loan first or focus on building up more investments (as i have done till now) and paying the minimum EMI

TIA.

Context:

I have a solid profile with an MBA from a reputable institute in India. I’ve worked across three different companies in analytics, research, and advisory roles. I’ve been with my current firm for about a year.

Current Situation:

I’m confused about my career direction. My role has become somewhat niche after the firm decided to shut down its strategy consulting practice. The focus has now shifted to B2B content marketing.

Key Considerations:

- Compensation is good

- Work-life balance is good

- Growth is somewhat restricted due to a company downturn

- A promotion is likely, though not immediate

- I’m okay with the current work, but concerned about limited exit opportunities

- The manager is supportive, and the team is good

Questions:

1.) Should I stay in my current firm, given that life is stable and I’ve recently gotten married? My partner is also considering a switch. We are financially comfortable and able to save a good amount. However, I’m concerned about becoming too niche and potentially facing difficulty while switching later. Also, the learning curve has flattened.

2.) Given the decent work-life balance, should I explore building something on the side? My main concerns are identifying the right idea, the capital required, and whether the time invested would be better spent advancing my primary career?

3.) How should I think about the impact of AI on my current role and career path, especially in content, research, and analytics, in terms of long-term relevance and growth?